Commentary: LAUSD board retreats from fiscal challenge again — and teachers union boss may be the big winner

Nearly a year ago, the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Directors voted to approve a new three-year agreement with United Teachers Los Angeles and seven other district bargaining units, extending union members’ ability to earn free lifetime health, dental, and vision care for themselves, their spouses, and their dependents. Long acknowledged as one of the primary causes of the district’s persistent budget woes, these incredibly generous benefits were approved in a divided vote, 4-2, with board president Mónica García voting in favor but acknowledging the district could not afford the agreement and vowing to get tougher in future negotiations. Board member Nick Melvoin voted against the agreement and issued dire warnings about continuing to add to the district’s staggering $15 billion unfunded liability.

Fast-forward 11 months, and the board members, again, voted on an expensive contract that locks in future liabilities that the district can’t afford. The approved agreement between the district and the teachers union that ended the recent six-day strike adds to the payroll new teachers, nurses, counselors, and community schools coordinators, all of whom will be eligible to qualify for the lifetime benefits approved last February.

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